How To Make Diet And Exercise Resolutions That Work?

Many people make New Year’s resolutions only to break them by the end of January (or sooner)!

From that point, most give up on their goals entirely until the next New Year. Why does this happen?

Most people make the mistake of setting goals that are overwhelming and difficult to achieve in a short period of time.

So instead of saying “I will lose 50 pounds,” break it down into 10-pound increments. After losing 10 pounds, treat yourself to a reward (not food) and set a goal to lose another 10 pounds. Repeat until you reach your ultimate goal.

For an overweight person, any weight loss is beneficial, even as little as 10-20 pounds or 10 percent of a person’s body weight. This can result in lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Another resolution breaker is making too many changes at one time. For example, “I will lose 50 pounds, quit smoking, and exercise every day” is more than most people can handle all at once. It is especially difficult if you have a lot of stress from job, family or personal responsibilities.

It can be done, however, if you attack one goal at a time and work on it until you have a handle on it. Give yourself a month or two, because psychologists say that it takes about a month to make a new habit a routine.

After 30 days, you should see some positive results from your effort and feel comfortable and motivated enough to add another goal.